Safety Report: Bike patrol deputies nab identity thieves at mall

SAFETY REPORT

CHARLIE BIER, News Services

Published
5:30 am CST, Thursday, November 4, 2004

Bicycle patrol deputies with the Montgomery County Sheriff's Department District 2 Office arrested two men Oct. 28 on suspicion of identity theft after spotting them inside an area department store buying merchandise with phony credit cards.

A pair of patrol deputies saw a man inside the Marshall's Department Store, 1200 block of Lake Woodlands Drive, who was going through the motions of shopping, but they suspected him of being on the lookout for authorities.

The deputies watched the man from outside the store as he stood near a merchandise bin, but he was scanning the checkout area, store and outside.

After the man was joined by another man, they paid for a large amount of goods, left the store, got into their car and exited the parking lot, running a red light to escape a patrol car that had been called in for back-up.

The men told police they were using phony information, according to District 2 reports.

Deputies found an envelope in the car that had numerous checks from several different banks inside, as well as driver's licenses and bogus identifying information cards with names on them that didn't match the two subjects.

Deputies also found written lists with names, addresses, Social Security numbers and bank account and credit card numbers.

District 2 Lt. Ollie Coward said the pair are prolific identity thieves.

"It looks like they've had a 10-year history of doing this," Coward said.

The two men, a 41-year-old and 30-year-old, both of Houston, were arrested on suspicion of 29 counts of fraudulent use of identifying information, two counts of credit card abuse, failure to identify and possession of dangerous drugs.

Graffiti smears garage door, vehicle

In two Saturday incidents, graffiti artists smeared a garage door, 100 block of Winter Wheat and a parked van, 1200 block of Millbend, with spray paint, according to Montgomery County Sheriff's Department District 2 reports.

Concert-goers jailed for marijuana

A 34-year-old Livingston man and a 32-year-old Highlands man were arrested Saturday at the
Cynthia Woods Mitchell
pavilion, 2000 block of Lake Robbins Drive, on suspicion of possession of marijuana after foot-patrolling constable's deputies saw them with drug paraphernalia.

The men were found with less than one ounce of the drug, according to Montgomery County Precinct 3 Constable's Office reports.

Man jailed on assault charge

A 17-year-old man from The Woodlands was arrested Sunday on suspicion of assault and family violence. The man allegedly assaulted a 48-year-old woman relative, who received minor injuries, according to Montgomery County Precinct 3 Constable's Office reports.

Vandals damage trees, shrubs

Vandals cut down a small tree Sunday and uprooted several small shrubs that they then placed on the front doorstep of a house, 100 block of Splitrock, according to Montgomery County Sheriff's Department District 2 reports.

Golf clubs taken from garage

A set of golf clubs valued at about $1,200 was stolen Oct. 28 from an attached garage, 100 block of South Berryline Circle, after someone entered the garage through an unlocked door, according to Montgomery County Precinct 3 Constable's Office reports.

Gun among items stolen from car

A handgun and global positioning system were stolen Sunday from a car parked in the 200 block of Bristol Bend, according to Montgomery County Sheriff's Department District 2 reports.

House burglarized, jewelry taken

An estimated $7,000 worth of jewelry was stolen Friday during a house burglary, 1000 block of Chesterpoint Drive, according to Montgomery County Precinct 3 Constable's Office reports.

Man jailed after sexual assault

A 23-year-old The Woodlands man was arrested Oct. 28 after an alleged sexual assault of a woman relative, 100 block of Yewleaf Drive, according to Montgomery County Precinct 3 Constable's Office reports.

Cabinets stolen from house

Village Builders reported new cabinets were stolen from a locked garage, 100 block of Shale Creek. The cabinets were worth about $365, according to reports.